Venture: East Africa Foods

Investment: $2.5M loan

Portfolio: Scaling Capital

Investment date: April 2024

Region(s) served: Tanzania

Sector: Agriculture

Core Impact Metric: Increased income for farmers

Creating a new supply chain to connect farmers and their customers

East Africa Foods (EAF) is increasing farmer income by creating an efficient marketplace and supply chain for fresh fruit and vegetables. EAF works with farmers to grow high-quality staple produce (such as onions, potatoes, bananas, rice, and beans) that are always in high demand in Tanzania and across East Africa. They then process, package, and sell that produce in bulk to customers like informal retailers, hotels, restaurants, and supermarkets.

Why Rippleworks Invested:

EAF’s model is one that is incredibly capital-intensive. As a venture creating a new supply chain, they need warehouses, storage capabilities, and transportation in order to scale their business. Rippleworks had an opportunity to come in at an inflection point for EAF and help them purchase trucks and other major pieces of equipment so that they can grow their business across the region.